It is not made easy for the candidates!
Do you want your child to receive a royal education? Then you better make sure you have a generous budget and that your offspring is on solid footing. For example, there are plenty of rumors that Prince William and Princess Kate want to send their eldest son, Prince George, to a prestigious boarding school that has a very strict admission process.
Teddies
Last month we wrote about the three schools that insiders say are on the table for Prince George. After his time at Lambrook School, he might spend his adolescence at the elite Eton College (just like dad William and uncle Harry), at Marlborough College (just like mum Catherine), or at the relatively unknown St Edward’s School – better known as ‘Teddies’.
Royalty writer Richard Eden reported from personal sources that the Waleses also reportedly took a look at Oxford’s St Edwards School. This school would give the highest priority to the happiness of the kids and offer subjects in the field of sustainability. This is of course completely in line with grandfather Charles’ and Prince Williams’ commitment to eco-friendly initiatives.
Admission
It won’t surprise you that the Waleses don’t send their offspring to the next best secondary school in the area. No. St Edward’s School is highly regarded and has a particularly princely price tag of around £47,000 per year.
Prospective students must also pass a rigorous entrance test. This goes just a step further than the standard tests and exams as we know them from our own primary school days. If the score is satisfactory, the real work begins: an on-site assessment. This day often consists of an in-depth interview and a number of activities.
Educational expert James Mitchell spoke to Hello! Magazine gave a small glimpse of what such an admission day looks like. “It is not just an academic exam. It is a holistic exploration of a candidate’s character,” he reveals. The focus here is on ‘raising well-rounded individuals’. And Mitchell sees a good match with the young Prince George.
“His education is not only about intellectual growth, but also about shaping a public figure adept at dealing with diverse social environments and responsibilities.”
Difficult questions
During this admission day, the (very young) candidates are put to the test. For example, one of the questions asked would be as follows: “Suppose you were hosting a dinner party and you could invite anyone you wanted, living or dead, who would you invite?”
This is already a tough question for the average adult, but for a ten-year-old? At that age, the Glamial editors would not have gotten much further than names of actors that we had on posters on our walls…
The school itself states in their Prospectus brochure that in addition to ‘academic skills’ they are also looking for ‘ambition, energy, and a sense of purpose’. You just have to stand there as a pre-teen!
Anyway: of course it is not yet certain that George will indeed be educated at the Oxford school. In any case, there will be no lack of ambition on the part of the future king.
Source: Hello! Magazine | Image: NL Image
